Bishop Milan Stipich presided over the solemn liturgy in Križevci on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The liturgy, held in the context of the monthly pilgrimage of the faithful to the power of Saint Seraphim, also marked the sixth anniversary of his episcopal ordination.
In his homily, Bishop Milan reflected on the Gospel parable in which the Pharisees reproach Jesus and his disciples for plucking grain on the Sabbath, as well as on Jesus healing a man with a withered hand. He stated that the miraculous and positive aspect was not what Jesus did for the man, bringing him good and healing him, but that the Pharisees were focused on the rules of the Sabbath. He pointed out that Jesus acts firmly against those who value a point of law over the genuine good of a human being, noting that there is a similar mindset among Christians.
Bishop Milan warned that while we know the commandments of God and understand what the Gospel teaches, it is crucial that we do not become like the Pharisees of the Old Testament. He cautioned that one must not let the forest obscure the tree, nor lose the essence and core of one's faith, nor the true teaching of our saviour and teacher, Jesus Christ. He emphasised that He is the essence of our faith, that He came to liberate us from the mere keeping of laws and regulations, and that He introduces a new law: the law of love.
He recalled that Jesus clearly states the most important commandments upon which all of God's law depends: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and love your neighbour as yourself. He stated that this is the essence of all the law and the prophets, and that He wishes to convey that if you love your neighbour as yourself, you will not steal from them, nor do them wrong, nor destroy them with lies, but will do good to them as you would wish for yourself.
Bishop Milan stated that if we love God, it will not be difficult to come to church, to fast, to pray, and to receive the holy sacraments. He said that Jesus shows us a new path, the path of love, that we should do all things out of love, not out of compulsion to obey the law. He called for us to build our relationship with God and with our neighbours in love, for only from this does the healing of soul and body occur.
At the end of the liturgy, Deacon Livio Marijan, on behalf of the Ordinary and all those present, congratulated Bishop Milan on his anniversary. A gift was presented to Bishop Milan, and the Magnificat was sung. After the service, the priests anointed the pilgrims with the oil of Saint Seraphim, accompanied by prayers for spiritual, mental, and physical health.
In the afternoon, a spiritual programme was held, organised by the Prayer Union of Saint Seraphim, in which Father Ivan Dominik Iličić, OP, delivered the address.
